A 36-year-old man who broke a window at his parent’s neighbour’s house was ordered to pay €150 to the Court Poor Box and the judge struck out the charge against him.  

Jamie Cahalane, of St Barrahane’s Avenue, Castletownsend was charged with causing criminal damage to the home of Seamus Cullen. 

Sgt Tom Mulcahy said that on October 13th 2024, Mr Cahalane had been attending a family get-together, before visiting a pub in Castletownsend. 

As he and members of his family came home they could hear noise from the house next door where Mr Cullen lived.

Sgt Mulcahy said the noise continued and Mr Cahalane went out between 1am and 2am to tell Mr Cullen to quieten down because there was a child in the house.

Mr Cahalane then broke a window on the front door of Mr Cullen’s home and received a cut to his hand as a result, Sgt Mulcahy said. 

Defence solicitor Colette McCarthy said her client had been at a pool tournament with his father and brother where he had three drinks.

‘They came home and heard shouting and roaring coming from next door,’ Ms McCarthy said, adding that Mr Cahalane did not intend to break the glass. 

Ms McCarthy said in the following days her client and his family contacted Cork County Council, who owned Mr Cullen’s property, and paid to get the damaged glass replaced.

She said the window on the front door was as such not Mr Cullen’s property but Cork County Council’s, who did not file a complaint against Mr Cahalane. 

The court heard that the defendant had nine previous convictions, for assault and a number of traffic offences.

His last conviction dated back to March 24th 2015 when he was ordered to pay a €500 fine for an assault conviction.

Judge Joanne Carroll said she accepted that all the defendant wanted to do was knock on the door to see if he could bring some quietness to the situation.

Judge Carroll struck out the charge of criminal damage.  

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.